Entrepreneurship needs more support, not less

May 24, 2013

Written by

Justin Belleme, Asheville

I was disappointed when I read the May 13 article about the N.C. Senate bill that will defund AdvantageWest. Over the last several years I have found significant value in the entrepreneurship events produced by AdvantageWest. This year, my company, JB Media Group, sponsored a series of entrepreneurship events produced in Asheville by this organization. We have been in business for a little more than two years and have invested in a variety of marketing efforts, including sponsoring a variety of local events. To date our sponsorship of AdvantageWest events has been by far the most effective for our business development. We have made connections and closed new business at each event this year. Venture Local, an AdvantageWest event that takes place in the fall, has been both inspirational and economically productive for us each of the last two years. We intend to sponsor that event at a higher level in coming years if it still takes place. Creating a culture of entrepreneurship takes time and effort, and Asheville needs more support not less.Justin Belleme, Asheville